Certified Translator

[furble 3]

I feel like this topic has been mulled over a million times on this forum but here we go again because I didn't find anything on the forum conclusive to my situation.

I got some documents translated in Bali by a sworn authorized translater. (Wife's birth Certificate and ID Card).

The translator did a very professional job and clearly a lot of procedure was followed in the way they did it. A lot of little things like they folded over the top corner of the translation stapled to the original and had an offical stamp from the Indonesian goverment stamping across the folded over part so the stamp is half on the front and half on the back of the documents. And then there is another big offical stamp on the front which is also signed by them and the stamp states they are sworn certified translators by the governer of Bali, and when their certification expires.

Now in the I-130 Instructions, it is pretty vague stating that:

"Translations. Any foreign language document must be accompanied by a full english translation that the translator has certified as complete and correct, and by the translator's certification that he or she is competent to translate the foreign language into English"

But from my prior readings through this forum it seems like there is a very specific statement that has to be written exactly like:

"I [typed name], certify that I am fluent (conversant) in the English and ________ languages, and that the above/attached document is an accurate translation of the document attached entitled ______________________________."

So which is it? Anyone know if what I have already had done is acceptable with any level of certainty. I can honestly say that if all I had ever seen were the official instrutions to the I-130 then I would be certain that what I already have is fine. Frankly I think it is kind of silly to expect folks all over the world to talk to their offical professional translator and tell them that just for you they have to write this specific special thing, meanwhile they have gone to school, are professionally certified, have special stamps and such and translate stuff all day long the same official way for every other government in the world.

And yes, I'm aware I don't even need to include my wife's birth cert or ID Card with the I-130 but just trying to include a little extra documentation on her since she has no last or middle name.

[SantFeliuGuixols 1]

This information is taken from § Sec. 103.2 Applications, petitions, and other documents. Found at the USCIS 11.3 Foreign Language Documents and Translations section:

"(3) Translations . Any document containing foreign language submitted to USCIS shall be accompanied by a full English language translation which the translator has certified as complete and accurate, and by the translator's certification that he or she is competent to translate from the foreign language into English."

There are two requirements, the translator certifies document is complete and accurate and that the translator is competent to translate. The statement which you posted is just an example which contains these two prerequisites.

From my perspective, these two statements are implicit in the translator's official stamp stating that they are sworn certified translators. However, I don't know if sworn translators are also required to specify this information, in addition to their official seal.

[Prettysunshine 4]

I feel like this topic has been mulled over a million times on this forum but here we go again because I didn't find anything on the forum conclusive to my situation.

I got some documents translated in Bali by a sworn authorized translater. (Wife's birth Certificate and ID Card).

The translator did a very professional job and clearly a lot of procedure was followed in the way they did it. A lot of little things like they folded over the top corner of the translation stapled to the original and had an offical stamp from the Indonesian goverment stamping across the folded over part so the stamp is half on the front and half on the back of the documents. And then there is another big offical stamp on the front which is also signed by them and the stamp states they are sworn certified translators by the governer of Bali, and when their certification expires.

Now in the I-130 Instructions, it is pretty vague stating that:

"Translations. Any foreign language document must be accompanied by a full english translation that the translator has certified as complete and correct, and by the translator's certification that he or she is competent to translate the foreign language into English"

But from my prior readings through this forum it seems like there is a very specific statement that has to be written exactly like:

"I [typed name], certify that I am fluent (conversant) in the English and ________ languages, and that the above/attached document is an accurate translation of the document attached entitled ______________________________."

So which is it? Anyone know if what I have already had done is acceptable with any level of certainty. I can honestly say that if all I had ever seen were the official instrutions to the I-130 then I would be certain that what I already have is fine. Frankly I think it is kind of silly to expect folks all over the world to talk to their offical professional translator and tell them that just for you they have to write this specific special thing, meanwhile they have gone to school, are professionally certified, have special stamps and such and translate stuff all day long the same official way for every other government in the world.

And yes, I'm aware I don't even need to include my wife's birth cert or ID Card with the I-130 but just trying to include a little extra documentation on her since she has no last or middle name.

What you have appears sufficient but it may not have been done by an authorized & sworn translator as recommended by the US Embassy in Jakarta.

I have provided a link for you to check whether your translator is authorized by the US Embassy in Jakarta: http://jakarta.usembassy.gov/professional-services/list-of-authenticating-officials.html. I don't know if there are any authorized and sworn translators in Bali; you may have to call the embassy in Jakarta yourself to verify.

I know some members of the forum chose to translate the documents ( chat records or email) by themselves which may not have been done correctly, hence that's why the wording stating that they are English proficient and competent is necessary. I recommend you use the authorized & sworn translators to be on the safe side. If you choose to use the document translated by a non authorized & sworn translator, you may be required to resubmit another translation from an authorized and sworn translator. I chose to use Mariana Warokka for fast handling and cheaper price.

Best wishes!

[WeWillBe 0]

Prettysunshine your link doesn't work, says file not found, could you please try again, Thank you

[Prettysunshine 4]

Prettysunshine your link doesn't work, says file not found, could you please try again, Thank you

I hope this link works this time.

http://jakarta.usembassy.gov/professional-services/list-of-authenticating-officials.html

[furble 3]

Thanks for everyones answers. I'd like to note that I had spoken a while back when just starting this process regarding translations with the Immigrant visa section in Jakarta regarding translations and they said their list of U.S. authorized translators only includes translators on the Island of Java and that since I am on Bali that I can just use anyone that is "competent" local to me.

Everytime I call the embassy and ask them anything they are always very sort of non-chalant about the answers like it's all sort-of no big deal and I should just do what makes makes sense to me. I appreciate that and all but the thing is I'm not a resident of Indonesia, just a perpetual tourist and therefore I am not filing DCF so it's kind of up to what the folks at USCIS think and whenever I call them they just verbatim read back exactly what is on the instructions (as if I haven't already read them) as that is all they are permitted to do. They can't give any sort of opinion and anything other than what is part of the official instructions is automatically considered an opionion.

[yousufwalton 0]

I feel like this topic has been mulled over a million times on this forum but here we go again because I didn't find anything on the forum conclusive to my situation.

I got some documents translated in Bali by a sworn authorized translater. (Wife's birth Certificate and ID Card).

The translator did a very professional job and clearly a lot of procedure was followed in the way they did it. A lot of little things like they folded over the top corner of the translation stapled to the original and had an offical stamp from the Indonesian goverment stamping across the folded over part so the stamp is half on the front and half on the back of the documents. And then there is another big offical stamp on the front which is also signed by them and the stamp states they are sworn certified translators by the governer of Bali, and when their certification expires.

Now in the I-130 Instructions, it is pretty vague stating that:

"Translations. Any foreign language document must be accompanied by a full english translation that the translator has certified as complete and correct, and by the translator's certification that he or she is competent to translate the foreign language into English"

But from my prior readings through this forum it seems like there is a very specific statement that has to be written exactly like:

"I [typed name], certify that I am fluent (conversant) in the English and ________ languages, and that the above/attached document is an accurate translation of the document attached entitled ______________________________."

So which is it? Anyone know if what I have already had done is acceptable with any level of certainty. I can honestly say that if all I had ever seen were the official instrutions to the I-130 then I would be certain that what I already have is fine. Frankly I think it is kind of silly to expect folks all over the world to talk to their offical professional translator and tell them that just for you they have to write this specific special thing, meanwhile they have gone to school, are professionally certified, have special stamps and such and translate stuff all day long the same official way for every other government in the world.

And yes, I'm aware I don't even need to include my wife's birth cert or ID Card with the I-130 but just trying to include a little extra documentation on her since she has no last or middle name.

This information is taken from § Sec. 103.2 Applications, petitions, and other documents. Found at the USCIS 11.3 Foreign Language Documents and Translations section:

"(3) Translations . Any document containing foreign language submitted to USCIS shall be accompanied by a full English language translation which the translator has certified as complete and accurate, and by the translator's certification that he or she is competent to translate from the foreign language into English."

There are two requirements, the translator certifies document is complete and accurate and that the translator is competent to translate. The statement which you posted is just an example which contains these two prerequisites.

From my perspective, these two statements are implicit in the translator's official stamp stating that they are sworn certified translators. However, I don't know if sworn translators are also required to specify this information, in addition to their official seal.

I hope this link works this time.

http://jakarta.usembassy.gov/professional-services/list-of-authenticating-officials.html

""USE OF ANY TRANSLATORS IS NOT ENDORSED, RECOMMENDED OR REQUIRED BY U.S. EMABSSY JAKARTA.""

[yousufwalton 0]

also most documents these days are in Indonesian and English. they dont need a translation. except the ktp lol. anyways you/your wife could had translated it yourself in all honesty its just one word phrases.